...the sacred customs of the tomb of Adonis, to which the goddess Venus came every year to celebrate the passing of the year; and other histories: then they requested Polia to tell them of her origin, and in what manner she had fallen in love. 129.

TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS

Polia declares from what race she is descended, and how the city of Treviso original: "Trëuifz" was built by her ancestors: then in what manner Poliphilo became enamored of her. 133.

Polia recounts how she was struck by the plague: and being in this peril, she recommended herself to the goddess Diana, making a vow to spend the rest of her days in her service. And how by chance Poliphilo found himself at the temple on the day she made her profession: then he returned the following day to the same place, where she was alone on her knees saying her prayers, and there he declared to her the martyrdom and amorous torment that he had suffered and endured for her, which grew from hour to hour: begging her to be willing to alleviate it, of which she took no account: wherefore, knowing that he found no pity in her, he swooned with grief and anguish, so much so that he fell dead at her feet, from which she fled, utterly terrified. 135.

How Polia recites the great cruelty she used toward Poliphilo, and how in fleeing she was snatched up and lifted by a whirlwind, and carried into a dark forest, where she saw justice done to two damsels This refers to an allegorical vision where Cupid punishes women who were cold-hearted toward their lovers, by which she was greatly frightened: then she found herself again in the place from which she had departed. And how afterward, in her sleep, two executioners appeared to her, having come to take her: wherefore she woke up with a start, and her nurse, who was lying with her, asked her the cause of her fear: and after having heard it, gave her counsel as to what she ought to do. 138.

How Polia recites in what manner her nurse, by various examples, admonished her to avoid the ire and the threats of the gods. And advised her to go to the Prioress of the temple of Venus, to be instructed in what she would have to do. 140.

How Polia, by the good counsel and admonishment of her nurse, changed her mind, and went to find Poliphilo, who lay dead in the temple of Diana where she had left him: and how he was resurrected in her arms: wherefore the Nymphs of Diana, who came upon them and surprised them together, chased them from the sanctuary. Then she speaks of a vision that appeared to her in her chamber. And how she went to the temple of Venus where her lover Poliphilo was. 143.

How after Polia had accused herself before the Prioress of the temple of Venus for the inhumanities and rudeness she had used toward Poliphilo, and declared that she was totally determined to be courtly and gracious to him in the future, the Prioress made him appear before her: and then he requested that her pleasure be to confirm and assure the goodwill they bore to one another. Then how Polia, through the impatience of love, interrupted the discourse of her lover. 147.

How after Poliphilo had finished his speech, Polia, in the presence of the Prioress, declared to him that she was ardently seized by his love, and totally disposed to please him: as a pledge arres From the Latin 'arra,' meaning a down payment or earnest money given to validate a contract; here, a symbolic kiss of which she gave him a kiss: and of the words that the Prioress spoke to them. 148.

How Poliphilo, obeying the command of the Prioress, at the beginning of his...